Colby Davis on Leadership: What Running a Crew Taught Him About Running a Company

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Before he was the CEO of Davis Painting, Colby Davis was in the field—loading ladders, prepping sites, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with his crew. He didn’t start with a corner office or a business degree. He started with hands-on work and a mindset that valued doing things right, even when no one was watching.

Those early years shaped his leadership style. Colby believes that real leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about trust, consistency, and the willingness to do the hard work yourself. The standards he set as a crew leader still define how Davis Painting operates today.

As the company expanded across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Colby never lost sight of the details. He sees every role—whether it’s the person rolling paint or managing logistics—as essential to the big picture. His hands-on experience has made him a leader who understands what it takes at every level, and it’s why his crews respect him.

At its core, Davis Painting isn’t just about delivering great results. It’s about building a culture where people feel valued, take pride in their work, and grow with the company. That starts at the top—and for Davis Painting, it started with Colby in the trenches.

Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations. He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications. Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries. Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.